Improvement in springs for vehicles



E. Ci. F F.

Springs for Vehicles.

Patented Jan. 14, 1873.

INVENTORZ WITNESSES: \9M..&M

AM PHOTO-LITHOGRAPHIL ca MK (assure/v53" macaw UNITED STATES PATENTOEEIcE' EDWARD CLIFF, OF SOUTH ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPRINGS FOR VEHICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 134,853, dated January14, 1873.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD CLIFF, of South St. Louis, in the county ofSt. Louis and State of Missouri, have invented a certain ImprovedSpring, of which the following is a specification:

This spring consists of a pair of U-bent spring plates or bars whoseends are attached to hinged blocks that have bearing upon the timbersheld asunder by the spring. The outer pair of spring-plates isre-enforced by additional shorter plates, which are held in place bybolts that pass through the inner bends, and are clipped to caps made tofit the outer bends. My invention also relates to the construction ofthe bearing given to the hinged blocks upon the: surfaces upon whichthey rest. The bearing consistsof rounded ribs which project from saidsurface, and which rest loosely in rounded grooves in the hinged blocks.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the spring. Fig. 2 is a longitudinalsection thereof.

A B are plates of spring-steel, bent substantially in the'manner shown,and having their ends attached to blocks 0, hinged at c sothat theblocks will work freely with the springplates without straining theattachments. In the bearing-faces of the blocks 0 are grooves D, whichextend nearly from side to side, and which receive bearing-ribs Eprojecting from the timbers or surfaces F, against which the pressure ofthe spring is exerted. The ribs E have sufficient prominence to keeptheblock clear of the surface F, and fill the groove D so loosely as toadmit the necessary play of the blocks in the working of the hinge 0.These B, &c., are re-enforcing spring-plates, which are so bent as tofit closely inside the outer springs A B and to re-enforce them at thatportion which is subjected to the greatest strain.-

G is a bolt which passes through the inside bend of the spring at eachend, and which is connected by clip-bolts H to a cap, I, which fits theouter end, and by this means the plates of the spring are held together.

The spring is shown in the drawing as con-- sisting of three sets placedside by side; but it may consist of a single set or of two or more,according to the strength required. In any case but a single bolt, G,and cap I is used at each end of the spring, and serves to hold the setstogether, a clip-bolt, H, being interposed between each set and the nextone.

I claim as my invention 1. The spring consisting of plates A B whoseends are firmly secured to hinged bearingblocks 0, all substantially asset forth.

2. The combination of spring-plates A B, blocks 0, and rocking bearing DE, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of spring-plates A A B B, clip connections G H I, andhinged bearing-blocks O, substantially as set forth.

EDWARD 'OLIFF.

Witnesses:

SAME. KNIGHT, ROBERT BURNS.

